Samuel Adams is launching a new, limited-edition beer that will be 28 percent alcohol by volume, and it’s so strong that it will be illegal for purchase in 15 states.
Every two years, the brewer releases a new version of its Utopias limited-edition beer, and the twelfth edition this year will be priced at an eye-popping $240 for a 25.4-ounce bottle starting on October 11.
However, it won’t be on shelves in some states, including: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, and West Virginia.
The ultra-strong beers are illegal in those states because they contain 28 percent alcohol by volume, more than five times the potency of typical US brews.
Samuel Adams will launch its new limited-edition Utopia beer that contains 28 percent ABV, which will be banned in 15 states due to its potency – more than five times the potency of typical US brews
Many states have ABV-based rules around where alcohol can be sold. For instance, in Mississippi, only beer at 5 percent ABV and under can be sold in grocery and convenience stores, though beer up to 10 percent ABV can be sold in specialty stores.
In Ohio, liquor at more than 21 percent ABV can only be sold in liquor stores, though groceries and other stores can sell lower ABV spirits and liqueurs. In addition, many states outright ban beer above a certain ABV, even though it’s perfectly legal to buy wine or spirits at that alcohol level.
But even in places where the brew is legally allowed to be sold, it might still be difficult to find it.
Samuel Adams only brews a limited 13,000 bottles of Utopias every two years, according to its website. And it’s not cheaply sold — the suggested retail price is $240.
‘We pioneered the barrel-aging and blending process of Utopias almost thirty years ago and continue that time-honored tradition today,’ Jim Koch, founder and brewer of Samuel Adams, said in a statement.
‘Since the introduction of Utopias in 2002, brewers have explored uncharted territory with each brew, experimenting with different kinds of aging barrels, new flavors, and different blending techniques. The result is always special, spirited, and worth waiting for.’
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The latest Utopias is a combination of several amounts of what the brewer calls its ‘extreme beers,’ including some that have aged in bourbon barrels for more than 25 years.
The blend was aged in a total of 86 different barrels, including some that were previously used for Carcavelos, Madeira, Ruby Port, Sherry Oloroso, and sweet Sauternes wine barrels.
Often compared to a complex port or cognac – and sipped from a snifter at room temperature – Sam Adams Utopias is described as an ‘extreme’ beer by the brewery.
The blend was aged in a total of 86 different barrels, including some that were previously used for Carcavelos, Madeira, Ruby Port, Sherry Oloroso, and sweet Sauternes wine barrels.
On top of that, it was constitutes 2,000 pounds of black cherries, which brings both sweetness and tartness to the brew. The final product is said to have a ‘rich flavor of black cherry and dark fruits, with hints of maple and vanilla.’
Utopias were first introduced in 2002, but its prices have increased over the years.
The 2016 cost was $189, but there has been a price increase every year ever since. The 2017 version cost $199, while the 2019 cost was $10 more than that.
Next year will mark 20 years since Samuel Adams’ Utopias hit the market.
Meanwhile, Samuel Adams recently labelled itself as Inspiration4’s official beer, the first fully civilian tourism mission to space that returned from orbit Saturday.
The collaboration was described as a fundraiser for children’s cancer hospital called St. Judes, and a Utopia bottle signed by Koch and Inspiration4 crew members will be up for bid at the hospital’s upcoming charity auction.
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